N.C. Senate Race: Elaine Marshall Takes Outsider Label, Richard Burr Takes the Lead

When asked, Marshall says only, "I wasn't their choice." As she welcomes party support, she also steers a path independent from Obama. She is with the administration on many issues, unlike Burr, who was Exhibit A in a New Yorker article on Senate gridlock. In fact, she agrees with Obama's plan to extend tax cuts for the middle class but not for families making over $250,000.
But she criticized the money being spent on the war in Afghanistan. "We have been investing in teachers there and teachers here are laid off," she said. And she said the president should have focused "like a laser beam on jobs a whole lot earlier when he had the political capital to do it." She said she thinks an improving economy will "take the sharp edges off this voter discontent."
As he walked with Marshall through the Friendship Baptist outdoor celebration of the church's 120th anniversary, Democratic state Rep. Kelly Alexander was as concerned with the effects of state races on the education and health and human services budget and redistricting efforts. "Money doesn't vote, people do," he said, as he introduced Marshall and shook hands. "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" blared from speakers.

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